If you are going to be an expert in monitoring, preventing, and protecting systems from cyber-attacks, you will need a good laptop that can handle any type of work or data.
A good laptop for cyber security students should have a powerful processor, sufficient storage space, big RAM, and good battery life. You need a laptop capable of handling numerous complex tasks simultaneously, including programming and massive data crunching.
Here is a list of our top picks
- Acer Predator Helios 300–Editor’s Pick
- HP 15 Laptop–Best Budget
- NEW Microsoft Surface Book 3– Best Value
Best Laptop For Cyber Security Student Reviews- Top Picks
1. Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop
- RAM:16 GB DDR4
- Storage: 256 GB SSD
- Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
- Processor: 7th Gen Intel Core i7
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
This laptop is a gem and a good choice for cyber security students, especially those who also enjoy gaming. With an extensive battery life of 9 to 10 hours, you can work on this laptop for hours without running out of charge.
It comes with 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD storage, a full HD display, and the highly sought-after RTX 3060 graphics for a seamless working and gaming experience. In addition, it has extra empty hard drive slot, so you can add an extra hard disk to get more storage space.
The graphics card won’t give you any problems since both components function great together. Also, it’s highly compatible with the CPU.
However, it has loud fans and lackluster sound.
Pros
- Impressive graphics
- Seamless performance when working and gaming
- Expandable hard drive
- Multiple connectivity options
- Backlit keyboard
Cons
- Loud fans
2. HP 15 Laptop
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256 GB SSD
- Screen Size:15.6 inches
- Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7
- Graphics: Intel Iris
Thanks to its lightweight, thin design, you can effortlessly carry this laptop everywhere, whether it’s to class, home, library, or even your favorite café. Portability is also improved by up 7 hrs 15 mins of battery time, allowing you to work on the move conveniently.
Moreover, it charges quickly, going from 0-50 percent in approximately 45 minutes. Beyond the pleasant aesthetics lies a powerful processor, impressive storage and memory (256 GB SSD and 8GB, respectively), and excellent graphics to deliver unstoppable performance.
Besides being a fantastic study gadget, it’s also an excellent entertainment tool. You get to enjoy a 15.6-inch IPS, micro-edge, full HD, anti-glare display that offers multi-monitor set-ups and ultra-wide view angles.
However, it doesn’t have a backlit keyboard or a caps lock indicator, and it could use a boost in the screen quality.
Pros
- Good battery life and fast charging
- Lightweight, elegant design
- Wide viewing angle
- Impressive performance
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- No backlit keyboard
- Subpar webcam
3. NEW Microsoft Surface Book 3
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 256 GB SSD
- Screen Size: 15 Inch Touchscreen
- Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i7
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q
This is a fantastic, luxurious laptop with a superb build quality noticeable from the first touch. Besides the beautiful design, it also comes with terrific specifications suitable for cyber security students.
It performs 30% faster compared to the Surface Book 2 due to the upgrade in the processor from 3rd Gen Intel Core i7 to 10th Gen Intel Core i7. Additionally, it has NVIDIA GTX GeForce GPU-powered fast graphics, so you can rely on your Surface Book 3 to deliver seamless performance, whether at work or in pleasure.
Also, you won’t have to worry about your laptop shutting down in the middle of work because this laptop offers an extraordinarily long 17.5 hours of battery life and an improved standby.
Pros
- Faster processing
- Unique, flexible tablet-laptop convertible design
- Outstanding graphics
- Excellent keyboard
- Extremely long battery life
Cons
- The speakers are too soft
4. HP Pavilion x360 14 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Screen Size: 14 Inches
- Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1
- Graphics: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics G4
You can use this laptop in four modes- tablet, laptop tent, or stand mode when taking notes and drawing, among other activities. It’s also equipped with an impressive 14-inch display that’s multitouch-enabled, WLED-backlit with edge-to-edge glass, micro-edge, IPS, and 80% screen: body ratio.
It also offers fast processing, thanks to the 10th Gen intel core i5-1035G1 processor, 3.6 GHz CPU speed, a base frequency of 1.0 GHz, and Intel Turbo Boost. Furthermore, it boots up within seconds and transfers files swiftly due to its 8GB RAM.
HP Pavillion x360’s massive storage space of 512 GB SSD ensures you never run out of space to store your files and programs. If you cherish a lightweight, compact laptop with a touchscreen for your studies, this laptop is worth considering, but remember the battery life won’t last you more than 8 hours.
Pros
- Solid, decent plastic build
- The touchpad tracks gestures and movements decently well
- Portable and lightweight
- Fast processing
Cons
- Grainy webcam
- The battery life could be better
Buyer’s Guide: How To Pick a Good Laptop For Cyber Security Students
1. RAM
Sufficient RAM will let you run and load multiple programs efficiently without lag. Therefore, a cyber security student should get a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM.
2. Performance
You need an impressive processor to perform cybersecurity-related activities, so get the latest generation processor while minding your budget. Depending on how much you want to spend on a laptop for college, you can find decent laptops on a budget.
3. SSD
If you wish to study cyber security, you are better off with an SSD hard drive rather than an HDD. A laptop fitted with SSD will offer incredible performance, including faster data transfer.
4. Portability
Since a student’s life involves moving between classes and other areas, a heavy, cumbersome laptop will make you dread carrying it from one place to another. Therefore, opt for a lightweight, compact laptop for your cyber security studies.
Conclusion
The laptop processor, RAM, storage space and type, laptop weight, and graphics should be a priority for a student studying cyber security. Your laptop should be powerful enough to perform exceptionally, but it doesn’t have to cost too much money, so set a budget and find yourself an excellent laptop.
